Business Analyst - City of West Linn

BUSINESS ANALYST

General Function: 

Under the guidance of the Finance Director, or Finance Manager as assigned, this position is responsible for a variety of processes associated with the City’s financial functions.  These functions may include any of the following: general ledger journal entries, general ledger research and analysis, financial software conversion and maintenance, accounts receivable, accounts payable, collections, cash receipts, bank reconciliations, utility billing and/or other relative tasks in support of the Finance Department. Position serves as a business partner to all City department managers regarding financial software application and business process issues. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

(An employee in this classification may perform any of the following duties; however, these examples do not include all the specific tasks that an employee may be expected to perform)

5. Contributes to a positive work environment.
6. May perform the utility billing function, may perform any of the following duties: Maintain customer accounts through telephone, counter and mail contact; post and balance utility cash and receipts; prepare water and sewer billings; operate data processing equipment; maintain senior/low income discounts; collection of delinquent accounts; request water service disconnects and reconnects. Authorized to make adjustments in customer accounts for water leaks. Coordinates meter readings with meter-reader and the Public Works Department.
7. Assists in the planning, development, implementation and administration of departmental budgets/City-wide budget. May develop financial plan projections and documents; prepares revenue and expenditure analyses and forecasting; staffing analyses and budget status; and monitoring reports.  Develops and presents recommendations, drafts and/or analyzes budget request reports and documents including budget adjustment requests.
8. Assists with the development and with explanatory budget guidelines to department managers and supervisors, reviews and evaluates budget requests to ensure compliance with established guidelines.
9. Assists with the reconciliation of general ledger accounts and monthly bank reconciliations.

6. Assists with core accounting processes to included accounts payable, payroll, cash receipts, and/or utility billing processes.

7. Performs financial analyses and statistical computation for various rate studies, financial models and cost allocation plans.

8. Assists with year-end audit report, preparation of work papers, and preparing the audit document.
9. Performance Measurement. Included in quarterly reviews with management. Produce monthly/annual forecast report. Performs financial analyses and statistical computations for various rate studies, financial models and cost allocation plans.

10. Assists with preparation of grants reporting all activities related to federal and state grants. Prepares other financial reports as requested.

11. Performs periodic financial studies and analyses for public bodies and City management and any other projects on an as needed basis.

Specifications:

1. Job Preparation:
   1. Education
      1. Graduate of a four (4) year college with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field.
      2. Required computer skills include high level of technical knowledge of financial    applications, spreadsheets and word processing. 

• Knowledge of integrated financial accounting systems with the ability to update and manage multiple databases involving financial, operational, and personnel data. Extensive experience with financial software required.

1. Satisfactory equivalent combination of applicable experience, education and training which ensures the ability to perform the work, as determined by the hiring authority, may be substituted for the above.

1. Training:
   1. Must have considerable knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), bookkeeping/accounting principles and practices. Requires ability to perform and analyze detailed work involving numeric data and to maintain moderately complex financial information.
   2. Considerable knowledge of budget preparation, laws governing budgeting, performance measurement, capital improvement programming necessary.

• Must have excellent communication and customer service skills to be successful in this position.

2. Supervision:

Received:  Work is performed under the general supervision of the Finance Director and/or the Finance Manager.

3. Exercised: Supervision of others is not a normal responsibility of this position. May assist in training, lead work responsibilities.
4. Communication:

Has frequent communication with all departments.

Must communicate with auditors, during audit and financial statement preparation; with lawyers, regarding collections and foreclosures; and with other governmental entities. 

May interact with the City’s residents regarding water billings. Assesses and rescinds fees and takes other actions necessary to resolve problems when implementing City policies and procedures.  

Relationships that must be maintained with organizations outside the City include: citizens, vendors, banks, auditors, lawyers, and other governmental entities. Is entrusted with confidential and sensitive financial, personnel, and payroll information.

5. Cognitive Functions:

Work is governed by written City and departmental policies, procedures, and ordinances, the principles, practices, methods and techniques of financial analysis and forecasting, including statistical modeling techniques; principles, practices and methods of administrative, organizational, economic and procedural analysis; principles and practices of public administration, including purchasing, contracting and maintenance of public records; principles, practices and methods of municipal budget development and management; basic principles, tools and techniques of project planning and management and Federal, State and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.

6. Working Conditions:

Typical work environment is an office setting. 

7. Resource Accountability:

Must safeguard and maintain financial records of all city assets.

Maintains all accounting records, including: general ledger; budget; subsidiary ledgers; financial statements and audit papers.

The job classification does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.